Understanding Faith-Based Ecological Citizenship: A Case Study of Korea Soka Gakkai International (KSGI)
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Previous Studies
3. From Ecological Religiosity to Faith-Based Ecological Citizenship
3.1. Ecological Religiosity
3.2. Faith-Based Ecological Citizenship
4. Methods
4.1. Data and Variables
4.2. Statistical Model
5. Results
6. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Latent Factor | Items | Strongly Disagree | Somewhat Disagree | Neutral | Somewhat Agree | Strongly Agree |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I. Ecological citizenship | ||||||
Ecological acts of faith (eig = 1.19; α = 0.74) | Living by ecological ethics is a natural obligation for people of faith. | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 12 (8%) | 61 (40.7%) | 77 (51.3%) |
People of faith should engage in various forms of environmental aid and sponsorship to help stop the destruction of ecosystems in underdeveloped countries. | 0 (0%) | 2 (1.3%) | 20 (13.3%) | 81 (54%) | 47 (31.3%) | |
People of faith should feel guilty if they turn a blind eye to environmental or ecological destruction. | 1 (0.7%) | 12 (8%) | 37 (24.7%) | 49 (32.7%) | 51 (34%) | |
Ecological attitudes (eig = 3.68; α = 0.69) | In line with global environmental regulations, South Korea should impose an environmental tax on all manufactured goods from now on. | 0 (0%) | 12 (8%) | 46 (30.7%) | 63 (42%) | 29 (19.3%) |
I am willing to use public transportation more than driving my car to help overcome the ecological crisis. | 2 (1.3%) | 16 (10.7%) | 43 (28.7%) | 58 (38.7%) | 31 (20.7%) | |
I think the use of all disposable items should be banned. | 6 (4%) | 37 (24.7%) | 40 (26.7%) | 55 (36.7%) | 12 (8%) | |
I am willing to eat a vegetarian diet to help solve the ecological crisis. | 11 (7.3%) | 37 (24.7%) | 41 (27.3%) | 47 (31.3%) | 14 (9.3%) | |
Ecological behaviors (eig = 1.24; α = 0.74) | I prioritize purchasing products with an eco-label or recycling label. | 0 (0%) | 6 (4%) | 42 (28%) | 63 (42%) | 39 (26%) |
I take a shopping bag with me when I go to the grocery store or market. | 1 (0.7%) | 5 (3.3%) | 14 (9.3%) | 58 (38.7%) | 72 (48%) | |
I wash and separate garbage such as paper, plastic, bottles, and cans. | 1 (0.7%) | 9 (6%) | 12 (8%) | 61 (40.7%) | 67 (44.7%) | |
II. Ecological religiosity | ||||||
COVID-19 as a religious experience (eig = 3.54; α = 0.80) | Despite the rapid development of modern medicine, the place people will ultimately turn to is their religious faith in the COVID-19 pandemic. | 8 (5.3%) | 27 (18%) | 43 (28.7%) | 52 (34.7%) | 20 (13.3%) |
Religion has made me think more deeply about the value and dignity of life. | 0 (0%) | 3 (2%) | 18 (12%) | 63 (42%) | 66 (44%) | |
I realized the importance of religious community once again. | 0 (0%) | 2 (1.3%) | 24 (16%) | 63 (42%) | 61 (40.7%) | |
I pray more often than before. | 1 (0.7%) | 13 (8.7%) | 29 (19.3%) | 69 (46%) | 38 (25.3%) | |
COVID-19 as an ecological issue (eig = 1.66; α = 0.80) | The COVID-19 pandemic is a clear manifestation of the climate crisis. | 6 (4%) | 16 (10.7%) | 35 (23.3%) | 50 (33.3%) | 43 (28.7%) |
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected my view of the environment and ecological issues. | 1 (0.7%) | 6 (4%) | 20 (13.3%) | 76 (50.7%) | 47 (31.3%) | |
After the COVID-19 pandemic, I strive harder to take environmentally friendly actions. | 0 (0%) | 6 (4%) | 33 (22%) | 71 (47.3%) | 40 (26.7%) | |
COVID-19 as an ominous event (eig = 1.10; α = 0.35) | The COVID-19 pandemic is a warning of the end of human civilization. | 38 (25.3%) | 32 (21.3%) | 34 (22.7%) | 33 (22%) | 13 (8.7%) |
The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly shown the incapacity of the government. | 14 (9.3%) | 45 (30%) | 58 (38.7%) | 26 (17.3%) | 7 (4.7%) |
Model 1 (Eco. Acts of Faith) | Model 2 (Ecological Attitudes) | Model 3 (Ecological Behaviors) | |
---|---|---|---|
Control variables | |||
Female | −0.054 | 0.006 | −0.320 * |
(0.151) | (0.146) | (0.131) | |
Age | 0.019 ** | −0.003 | 0.006 |
(0.007) | (0.007) | (0.006) | |
Education | 0.004 | 0.103 | −0.107 |
(0.085) | (0.107) | (0.083) | |
Belief | −0.254 | −0.049 | −0.057 |
(0.136) | (0.161) | (0.144) | |
Prayer | −0.096 | 0.048 | −0.033 |
(0.269) | (0.329) | (0.247) | |
Life ethics | 0.230 ** | 0.085 | 0.196 ** |
(0.079) | (0.082) | (0.074) | |
Ecological religiosity | |||
COVID-19 as religious experience | 0.139 | 0.307 ** | 0.350 *** |
(0.081) | (0.107) | (0.084) | |
COVID-19 as ecological issue | 0.281 ** | 0.290 ** | 0.256 ** |
(0.088) | (0.095) | (0.096) | |
COVID-19 as an ominous event | <−0.001 | −0.209 ** | −0.152 * |
(0.089) | (0.072) | (0.073) | |
Constant | −0.599 | −0.169 | 0.214 |
(0.531) | (0.479) | (0.433) | |
Number of observations | 150 | ||
Coefficient of determination | 0.357 | 0.255 | 0.409 |
Root MSE | 0.827 | 0.890 | 0.793 |
F | 12.501 | 5.742 | 12.770 |
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Yoo, K.S.; Kim, H.W. Understanding Faith-Based Ecological Citizenship: A Case Study of Korea Soka Gakkai International (KSGI). Religions 2023, 14, 1402. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14111402
Yoo KS, Kim HW. Understanding Faith-Based Ecological Citizenship: A Case Study of Korea Soka Gakkai International (KSGI). Religions. 2023; 14(11):1402. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14111402
Chicago/Turabian StyleYoo, Kwang Suk, and Hyun Woo Kim. 2023. "Understanding Faith-Based Ecological Citizenship: A Case Study of Korea Soka Gakkai International (KSGI)" Religions 14, no. 11: 1402. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14111402
APA StyleYoo, K. S., & Kim, H. W. (2023). Understanding Faith-Based Ecological Citizenship: A Case Study of Korea Soka Gakkai International (KSGI). Religions, 14(11), 1402. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14111402